Mountains have always been my home! Born and brought up in Himachal Pradesh, I have always been in love with mountains and visited Hidimba Devi temple during my trip to Manali. Over the years, I have my Himachal Pradesh trip to different locations has always been full of memories.  Like any tourist from the warmer regions of India, I made exclusive planning for this Himachal Pradesh trip.

The Beginning

Well, things were much easier even in those days when mobile phone did not exist. It was an early morning in the year 1999 when I boarded the Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus from Shimla.

As I was well acquainted with being in the mountains, it did not feel odd. However, like any other beginner or first timer, I began making enquiry about different hotels in Manali. Imagination can take you anywhere and I began by asking a fellow traveller about Himachal Pradesh travel packages and if that would be useful for a Himachali too. Well, the sarcastic smile of the fellow passenger said it all and I changed my topic to budget hotels in Manali.

This seemed sensible and by the time our talk got engaging, we had reached the temple town of Mandi. Beyond this point, I was venturing for the first time and a mere look at the mighty Beas flowing down send chills to my spine. The gushing flow of was so scary that I began looking up the mountains. Well, this also was tough as the peaks were sky high. Remembering God, somehow, we reached Manali. The first sight of the town was truly mesmerizing. The backdrop of Rohtang Mountain Range covered with a thick blanket of snow made this truly breathtaking.

Well, I bargained with some budget hotels in Manali and found a room for a mere Rs 250/-. The year was 1999 and this too seemed a handsome amount. The lethargy of the travel took on me and I found it a better to just doze off and woke with an intent of visiting the Hidimba Devi temple.

Hidimba Devi Temple

I vividly remember that it was a bright morning in October, and I decided to begin by making a trip to Hidimba devi temple.

How to Reach

For all those who have limited knowledge about this historic place in Manali, the temple is just 600 meters from the Bus Stand in the town. You can opt to travel by vehicle or on foot, the temple is accessible both ways.

Historic Perspective

Hidimba Devi Temple finds mention in the epic Mahabharat too. As Pandavas escaped from Kaurvas and particularly Duryodhana, they found refuge in forest of Kamhakya. This place was home to demon Hidimb and Hadimba.

Hadimb wanted to kill Pandavas and sent his sister Hidimba to do the needful. However, on seeing Bhim, se fell in love with him and wanted to marry him. Through her magical powers, she got transformed into beautiful woman and eventually after killing Hadimb, Bhim married Hidimba. The couple had a son named Gathotkach who later fought in the Kurukshetra War.

Later when Pandvas departed from the region Hidimba decided to stay back and did meditation. Eventually, she became the protector of this region and became Hidimba Devi. This temple stands as a testimony to her sacrifice and her recognition as a Devi in the hills of Himachal Pradesh.

Images by Author

History of Hidimba Devi temple

The legacy of Hidimba Devi continued across ages and it was during the year 1553 that the Maharaja of the place Bahadur Singh constructed this temple. The royal family of Kullu too consider Hidimba Devi their protector.

There is no idol in the temple and a rock rising out from the ground is worshipped. This is believed to be the rock where Hidimba Devi meditated. A rope too is hanging in front of this rock. The story is too interesting and it is said that any person who committed sin in older days was tied hands down and was made to swing against this rock as a Punishment.

Hidimba Devi Temple Architecture

The Hidimba Devi temple has a slanting roof and is three layered. The shikara is conical shaped and images of Goddess Durga have been carved out on wood in outer periphery of the temple. In addition, it also contains dancers and scenes from life of Lord Krishna which have been said to be engraved over a period as the place was ruled by different Kings who had varied interests. Another noteworthy fact is that base of the temple is made out of mud and logs of wood have been engraved within to provide stability, a typical find in interior regions of Kullu District. The temple too has Kathkuni style of architecture.

A vital tip here that I found through experience is that in case you wish to know and understand details of Kathkuni architecture  and  are short of time to visit interior regions of Kullu district, a visit to Hidimba Devi temple can provide you a lot of information about this unique design.

Time Duration for Manali Visit

There are many places to explore in Manali and it will ideally require 3-4 days if you plan to know about this region in detail. Over the years, I have made numerous Himachal Pradesh trip to varied places in this Land of Gods. Manali too has transformed a lot in the past 20 years and the serenity of the place seemed to have diminished a bit owing to influx of tourists and spread of numerous budget hotels in Manali.

However, the lure of the mountains still remains and if you are an avid mountain lover, the month of September and October and the best time to explore the region and you will find a lot of solitude in this hill town which usually springs back to life during peak summers and extreme winters.

Manali will always surprise you with its exclusivity as it as been doing the same for me over the years. More on this magical town in the next series of this travel tale!